Meet Colony Viceroy

Last June, Radio Suffolk presenter and broadcaster Lesley Dolphin was at the Suffolk Punch Trusts Colony Stud on a pre-booked group visit. A colt foal was born to Colony Jan during the visit and Lesley was invited to name the youngster, bearing in mind that all foals born in the same year to the Colony Stud traditionally start their names with the same letter of the alphabet and the letter v is for 2009. 
Lesley asked her listeners for help and Colony Viceroy was chosen - most appropriate as it can mean governor of a colony. Today she came along to name the colt and to see how he had progressed. Tracey Pettitt, assistant head groom, said that he was the last of the seven foals born this year at the Stud and starting to feel confident around people. They are all handled every day and the first foal born this year Colony Vee was champion foal at both the Suffolk and the Framlingham Shows, and young Viceroy is starting to look every bit as good.

• A mare is in foal for about 11 months and the foal is usually weaned at 6 months.
• The world population of pedigree UK registered Suffolk Punch horses is around 400 and an average of 40 foals are born each year.